Russia Calls UN Resolution on Crimea ‘Counterproductive’

People wave Crimean flags after the March 16 referendum. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Russia has criticized Thursday's UN General Assembly resolution on the Crimean referendum, calling it a "counterproductive initiative".

The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution condemning Crimea's incorporation into the Russian Federation, following the March 16 referendum. The document, which is not legally binding, was supported by 100 members, while 11 voted against and 58 abstained.

"The counterproductive initiative with the General Assembly's resolution only complicates efforts to stabilize the internal political crisis in Ukraine", a statement of Russia's Foreign Ministry read, cited by CNN.

The country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged the European leaders to accept the situation in Ukraine and Crimea and to be guided by a "sense of reality".